About 5000 words later and here we are! I hope it doesn’t seemed rushed, but I wanted to get it out before the finale.
Warnings: soft, safe g/t vore, fearplay, panicking, fear of death and digestion (neither happen)
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Quackity was not expecting his night to end like this.
Shrunken down to five inches tall, barely escaping the grasp of his hunter, the man he tortured for weeks on end? He didn’t even know there was a way to shrink people on the server!
And as if that dizzying experience wasn’t enough, it was immediately followed with a hand slamming down too close for comfort, a familiar white mask meeting his startled gaze. The shrunken casino owner wasted no time in jumping off the desk, away from the larger. His wings snapped out to help him glide down, nullifying the fall damage he would have gotten otherwise. As his feet touched the ground, they instantly broke into a sprint, running out from under the desk and to the elevator as Dream circled the desk to grab him. As the water dragged his small body down, he could hear Dream’s faint taunting, muffled by the water.
“C’mon, Quackity. I just wanna talk. Can’t we do that? Don’t tell me you’re scared~.” He tried to block it out, forcing his pride to take the backseat to prioritize surviving the crazy fucker that shrunk him. He didn’t have a good head start; Once Dream realizes he’s not there anymore, he’d go down the elevator too, and… it didn’t look good.
He was for sure going to die if Dream got ahold of him, that was for certain. He had two lives, but at this size Dream could burn through them easily. He didn’t even know if his manipulated size would fade with death, maybe the former prisoner purposely made sure it wouldn’t.
He continued running, staying close to the walls to try and throw his pursuer off. Most of his plans were crushed instantly by his own panicked logic. Does he try to find Foolish? It may wind up being too easy to hurt him. Besides, didn’t Foolish interact with a god that was like Dream? No, he couldn’t risk it. Fundy’s a Fox, and as much as he’d like to push that aside his instinctual fear told him that he couldn’t risk it at this size. And if his instincts were flaring up, he couldn’t imagine what Fundy’s would do upon seeing him. He couldn’t really slip into any of the buildings, he’d get crushed, respawn in his office thanks to him leaving that bed in there for nights when paperwork was piled up, and Dream would know exactly where he was.
All he could do was keep running.
… Well, maybe not all hope was lost.
Near the toll bridge, there lay a secret chamber, locked in with iron bars and redstone wiring. Maybe, if he could lead Dream to it, he could…
Well, even if he locks him back up it wouldn’t do much, would it? It would only give him a minimal head start and at that point he’d just trap himself. Dream would catch up too easily. He could try booking it to Paradise, but that wouldn’t get him too far with nobody there anymore.
He couldn’t even remember if Wilbur had changed his stance on Dream or not, and even if he did, he didn’t change his stance on him. No, Wilbur likely would have taken advantage of his size to poke fun, been too careless, then he’d be back to the same issue, but with higher stakes.
Quackity found himself running towards the toll bridge anyway, solely on the fact that he was dead the minute he stopped running. Maybe someone would be there, someone who he can hide with. It wasn’t even hope that kept him running despite his lungs burning worse than his legs, it was fear running the blood in his veins ice cold that kept his feet slamming into the pavement below. Frustration had long since started to build up, if he was normal sized he’d have been there by this point!
Mentally going through his inventory, he was thankful that he remembered having a speed potion there. Ducking further against the wall, he paused for a moment, lungs heaving as they attempted to catch his breath. He opened his inventory, eyes frantically searching for the glimmering periwinkle liquid. Upon finding it, he ripped the cork off with almost feral strength despite his entire body trembling with adrenaline and exhaustion, and downed the entire bottle.
Almost instantly, a rush of energy filled him, and he did not wait a second longer to start running again, sprinting to the toll bridge with new vigor.
It was nowhere near his normal sized walking speed, but at least he was making noticeable distance now. At least, that’s how he felt up until he heard his hunter call for him, way too close for comfort.
His body inched even closer to the wall, shoulder practically scraping against it as he ran towards the entrance of his country, the hunting grounds he’d been trapped into. He kept his gaze forward, too scared to look anywhere else and chance getting caught off guard.
It was upon hearing giant footsteps that his own faltered, tripping over his own feet and barely catching himself against the wall. His head immediately snapped to his right, where Dream would be coming from, and found nobody there. Not even a shadow, but the footfalls had been loud, super close.
Quackity scanned the area around him with wary intent, adrenaline still burning through his system and making him shudder. Boom. Boom. Boom.
To his left, someone was walking up the hall, in his direction. As the person climbed up the stairs, the blackette’s breath caught in his throat when the first color he saw was green.
Pressing himself further against the wall, he tried to silence his breathing, still too quick for his liking. The person kept climbing the stairs, and…
That… that couldn’t be right.
It wasn’t Dream, but the familiarity of the person’s face, body still tinted green since the last time he saw him….
The person walking up the toll bridge’s hall was none other than Charlie.
It seemed that his nonhuman friend had finally given up the human façade, his hair completely green and dripping down his equally green and translucent face. He was still wearing his uniform, too, button up shirt stained a very light green. The dopey smile he used to wear was gone, replaced with a neutral line to his lips as he continued walking, maybe wandering? Charlie seemed so different than the last time he was actually able to interact with him that he couldn’t tell anymore. Even with the hesitance of barely recognizing him, Quackity couldn’t stop himself from calling out to him, almost in disbelief.
“Charlie!?” For a moment, Quackity feared that he didn’t recognize the name, or that he wasn’t loud enough to be heard, but the mob came to a stop, and relief flooded through the duck hybrid so fast his legs almost buckled beneath him. It seemed as though Charlie couldn’t figure out where the voice had come from, turning to look at his eye level. “Charlie!” He yelled again, daring to take a step closer to the hybrid before him, away from the safety of the wall. “Down here!”
His gaze snapped down upon the second sentence being spoken, and Quackity couldn’t help the shiver that ran down his spine at the abrupt eye contact. He just looked so… different, from when he’d seen him last. Is this really the same guy? The sudden hesitance melted when a soft smile came onto the slime’s features. “Quackity from Las Nevadas!” He was quieter than he had been in the past, but it couldn’t have been anyone else. He was even grateful for the soft volume at that moment; Dream was still after him, he couldn’t let himself forget. Even if the fact that Slime’s returned melted a lot of the negative emotions away. It was easier to think clearly when you’re not grieving, after all.
“Hey, it’s been a while, huh?” His chest was warm, but his veins still felt full of ice, and it made his voice waver with a terrible mix. It didn’t count the small chuckle that left either, sounding more like a nervous silence filler than an actual laugh. He couldn’t remember Charlie kneeling down, but he definitely was aware of his hand coming closer to him, glossy and green and transparent like the rest of him, and absolutely huge compared to him. Quackity wondered if he’d sink through it, if Charlie tried to touch or grab him. “It has, but that’s okay! I think we both needed the time. I certainly did.”
“Yea, where did you go? I-“ he cut himself off, realizing he was about to tell his former charge that he had been worried. He’d been the one to drill not getting attached into Charlie’s head, he can’t back out of that now. Especially if Charlie still believed it.
“I needed to get stronger before I could take on a more.. human form again. So I went somewhere where I could build my strength up without worrying about anyone trying to ruin that progress. But I’m back now!”
“Yea, that’s.. that’s good.” Guilt gnawed at the shrunken man's core viciously. He opened his mouth to say something, like let’s get out of here before dream spots you or why don’t we head to the needle and catch up? Neither of those came out, instead an apology stumbled out of his mouth before he could stop it. Not that he would have, anyway. He was due for one, he just wished it didn’t feel so rushed and that he could have actually thought about the words leaving his mouth.
“I- Charlie, I’m sorry about what happened. It.. I didn’t think Purpled would ever do something like that. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep it from happening.” Charlie’s face became neutral again, but the hand near him scooped him up anyway, startling Quackity badly. He almost started thrashing before he remembered just who had picked him up. “Quackity, I think we both failed to follow one of your lessons.” A grin spread across the slime’s face, and the blackette visibly melted with relief. “Yea, I guess we did. I missed you.” “I missed you too, Quackity. But at least I’m not the only one who’s changed. You were taller than this last time!”
Fuck, that’s right. Dream’s still prowling through Las Nevadas searching for me.
“Yea, let’s just say I pissed off another person. At least this one took it out on me. But I’m stuck like this and he’s currently hu-searching for me.” He really felt like he was being hunted, though. A cat going after the mouse it found. “Oh. That’s.. not good.” “Yeah, no. Wasn’t expecting to run into you, cause if you hadn’t left I wouldn’t have wanted you involved with this anyway.”
“But I am here. It wouldn’t be fair to leave you like this to face Dream alone.” Quackity’s brow furrowed. He didn’t remember telling Charlie it was Dream. Though, the slime always had that sort of uncanny knowledge at his fingertips. “You shouldn’t have to fight my battles for me. I’m sure this’ll wear off in a little bit, I just gotta keep running from-“
“Oh? I don’t think I’ve met you before.” Quackity stiffened, his good eye widening and breath catching in his lungs. Thank fuck Charlie had been turned around and Dream hadn’t seen his hands. It would have been game over right then and there.
“I think you were in prison when I joined.” Charlie had that neutral look on his face again. Quackity prayed it was a good poker face and that he wouldn’t betray him. He didn’t think he could take it, even if he did deserve it.
“Well, now’s as good a time as ever to meet, right? How about you turn around so I can actually see you.” The second sentence has not been a question, but a demand.
Charlie realized quick that this was a dangerous situation. If he tried to walk away with the shrunken casino owner in hand, Dream would catch on instantly, especially upon being disobeyed. If he left Quackity alone or tried to hide him when he turned, he’d definitely die. Well, he’d die either way, but Charlie may wind up dying too for trying to harbor him. When Dream called out to him again, the slime gave Quackity a brief apologetic look before turning to face Dream.
Quackity forced himself to relax when turned. He was terrified, yes, but he wasn’t going to have Charlie fight his battles. If Charlie had to give him away to survive, he’d let him. But Dream wouldn’t get any satisfaction from it. He forced himself to ignore the sting of betrayal, he’d tasted it before. Still bitter, still hurtful.
“What’s that you’ve got there?” His mask remained on his face, but Quackity could imagine the quirked brow and smirk on his face. Jokes on Dream, he didn’t need a mask to pull a poker face. “Something.” And neither did slime, apparently.
“Something? Looks like someone. As a matter of fact, it looks like..” he stepped forward, and the shrunken man tensed. “The very person I’ve been looking for.”
Charlie didn’t acknowledge the statement, only nodding as he tried to come up with an escape for him and Quackity. Now that he’s revealed him, there’s no way Dream lets him walk away. Not when he seems so eager to get his hands on him.
He could just absorb him long enough to get away from the escaped prisoner. It’d make Dream think he betrayed Quackity and think that Quackity’s been killed, and allow him to escape with him safely. He could do it safely too; an air pocket wouldn’t be difficult to conceal if the inner slime was just pushed to opposite ends, it would simply make him look more opaque through his core, without counting his shirt already. Hell, it might even be better so nobody can see Quackity in such a state, the slime knew if he was seen he’d be questioned anyway.
There was only one problem: Would Quackity know? There’s no way for him to tell the duck hybrid he’d be safe without giving it away to Dream, and all he can really rely on is trust.
And isn’t it just ironic that one of Quackity’s lessons is gonna have to be turned on it’s head to protect him?
“-me him, and you can go! I don’t have anything against you, there’s no reason for me to hurt you. But he has it coming.” Oh, Dream’s been talking this entire time that Charlie’s been scheming. He could feel how tense Quackity was in his hand, almost trembling with nervousness. Not fear, Charlie wasn’t sure if he had it in him to feel fear anymore. Well, maybe he’ll find out, if he doesn’t trust him.
“Well, I saw him first. Technically that means he’s mine.”
Confusion met him on one end, and borderline frustration met him on the other. Dream tilted his head, the mask doing little to disguise the annoyance he felt. “Right, but you don’t plan on doing anything with him. Hell, I don’t even know if you really know him or not. Wasn’t really paying attention cause he was busy torturing me. He tell you that?” “I do know Quackity. And I was aware. I was also aware of the things you did to everyone on the server before you got locked up.” I know you’re part of the reason Quackity’s like this, shrinking potion aside.
“Okay. So, hand him over. We can just go our own separate ways afterwards. I’d hate for you to get involved.” Charlie simply raised his hand higher, not taking his gaze away from the masked man before him. He didn’t doubt the second he looked down Dream would try something. “Or we could go our separate ways and I can keep him. I found him first.” “You’re not gonna do anything with him. I will.”
“Who said I wasn’t?” Silence took the man’s voice away, but it also made his friend flinch in his hand. He’d better hurry this up so he can talk to him. He lifted his hand higher, stopping it in front of his face. He watched Dream’s reaction, and upon not getting one, opened his mouth and tipped the shrunken man inside, closing it over a gasp from said man. The soft noise didn’t last long, Quackity screaming as soon as he registered what was happening. It echoed in his mouth strangely, and his ears felt very offput by the yell. He didn’t blame Quackity, if anything he felt hurt that he wasn’t trusted more, but this was the man who taught him not to trust anything.
The movement wasn’t as bad, the frantic squirming just feeling.. nice. Not bad, or strange. Guess it was just slime instincts. Though, normally he’d just absorb and digest the struggling thing, not keep it safe.
It wasn’t as if he needed any assistance sending him down, if he didn’t fit then Charlie could just push the slime outwards and make him fit down his ‘throat’ easier. He wouldn’t let himself linger on his friend’s taste, he can think about that when they’re safe. He wasted no time pushing him back, tilting his head slightly to assist when he began flailing and trying to climb. He waited a moment to let his limbs weaken a bit, and when the man stopped squirming to catch his breath, he swallowed, earning another loud shriek.
For Dream’s part, he seemed shocked at the events that transpired before him. He knew slimes could be ruthless, but he thought that hybrids wouldn’t be nearly as bloodthirsty. He suppressed a shudder at imagining the fate awaiting his previous torturer. Even he couldn’t have pulled something like that on him. He took a step back, and almost jumped when the slime looked back at him. “Don’t think I won’t do the same to you. It took me a long time to get back to this type of form, and it makes me hungry to maintain it.”
Dream simply nodded, stepping back further. “Well, I think I’ll just let you enjoy your ‘meal’ then,” he couldn’t hide the shudder as he said meal, imagining himself in Quackity’s place. He turned and briskly walked off, towards the toll bridge.
Charlie waited until he was out of sight and turned to walk into Las Nevadas, going to the nearest building and locking the door behind him before turning his attention inward.
Quackity didn’t know what to think when Charlie had tossed him into his mouth. He’d seen the slime eat before, he didn’t even think that he had a mouth. Unless he formed one just for this. His brain gave up on staying collected, panic overriding every sense not filled with slime and making him lash out at his surroundings. He knew he’d never win; Charlie could literally reform every bit of damage he did, but he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t even tell if the loud pounding in his ears was his own heart or if Charlie’s biology actually gave him one. He didn’t really think he cared at the moment. He couldn’t stop the sting at his eyes, letting the tears fall from his good one. It cleared the slime from his cheek, somewhat.
He could definitely tell he wasn’t there long, even if his sense of time was skewed with fear, before he was lurched back towards what had to be the slime’s version of a throat. He tried to struggle more, but his breath ran out, and his limbs were tired. He’d been running for ages before he ran into Charlie.
He laid on his tongue for only a moment, taking gasping breaths that shook his whole chest, before he was pushed back and down, and he shrieked until the slime reached his face and he stopped to avoid drowning to it. He trembled violently the entire way down, the panic ebbing to leave bitter resignation and stabbing hurt to cave his chest in instead.
He wasn’t even granted the mercy of just drowning, suddenly dropping into an air pocket. He wanted to fight, demand to be released, until the slime’s voice echoed around him. A flinch jolted his whole body at the threat, and he simply sank down to the bottom of the pocket, tremors still holding his body hostage. He tried to take a deep breath, but it broke into a sob, jerking his entire chest painfully. He hadn’t cried in.. so long. It had to have been right after Techno put that pickaxe through his jaw. Or maybe before. He couldn’t remember, but he didn’t remember crying hurting this bad. The sobs continued to wrack his form, and for once he didn’t have the energy to suppress them. Not like anyone would see him, anyway. What’s the point of trying to suppress how he felt now? He was betrayed again, the very person he couldn’t save becoming his own downfall. He shouldn’t have pretended not to care about him. Maybe then Slime wouldn’t have died, and maybe then he wouldn’t have felt the need to do this to him.
Though it was ironic, wasn’t it? Charlie had melted in lava, and now he’s going to melt in the slime he couldn’t save.
His brain thankfully dulled his senses as he cried, feeling blissfully ignorant to his surroundings. It couldn't last forever, but the duck hybrid welcomed it for now, letting himself get lost in his emotions. At least, until the slime decided to interfere with his sorrow.
“Quackity?” He curled in on himself further. He couldn’t take it. He couldn’t listen to him gloat about killing him. He couldn’t. Another sob tore through him, and Charlie’s voice came back, more than a little panicked. “Quackity, are you okay? Are you hurt?” “Why would you care!” He yelled out. His mind was at its wits end, ready to completely shut down. He can’t take the false kindness. “I- This wasn’t to hurt you.” Something pressed against the slime around him, making an indent into the air pocket. His brain didn’t even begin to try and process how that worked. “Why would I hurt you? We’re friends… aren’t we?” He sounded unsure at the end. “I thought we were too.” The blackette replied bitterly. “I- no, Quackity I’m not going to hurt you-“ he cut himself off, and for a tense moment of silence, he was sure that Charlie had abruptly changed his mind. At least, until the slime in front of him suddenly changed, reaching towards him- did he just put his hand through his chest!? Quackity scrambled upright as the hand finished forming, wanting an escape. There was none, and he knew that beforehand- but the fingers wrapping around him scared him anyway. Maybe he changed his mind. Maybe he is gonna drown him with his own body. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to hide from the reality facing him.
That reality is really cold, apparently. He hadn’t even realized that Charlie emitted warmth until he was- wait. His eyes opened and he looked around. He was in Charlie’s hand, trapped in a very loose fist, but he was out.
Charlie sucked in a breath, despite not even needing to breathe. His friend looked so vulnerable like this, shrunken, distraught and panicked. He really hoped he hadn’t ruined everything by doing this. He wanted to come here to see him again, not drive himself away by breaking his trust!
“Quackity..?” the man in question flinched, senses feeling overwhelmed as he adjusted to being outside again. He looked around until he found the slime’s face. He.. looked very concerned. It’d worry Quackity if he hadn’t dealt with everything that had transpired tonight. “What?” He wanted to sound angry, but instead he simply sounded scared, voice shaking. “Did you really think I’d kill you?” He blew out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know what to think, Charlie. Every fucking move I make someone’s mad about. I keep getting people hurt, one of thems bound to lash out.” He looked away, unable to watch the mob’s face morph into the same anger he felt he deserved. “But why me? You haven’t given me a reason to be mad at you.” “I couldn’t save you.” The tears started anew. “If you didn’t forgive me for not saving you, I’d understand. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself, anyway.” “But you tried. That’s what counts.” “And failed. If you hadn’t been immortal like you said you were, you could have been gone permanently.” “Why are you stuck on ‘if’ situations? They’re not true. What’s true is that I’m here. I’m alive, and I forgive you.” His voice was firm at first, but softened almost instantly as the duck hybrid tensed at the tone.
“You shouldn’t.” He whispered as he shook harder, tears leaving lines down his slime-coated face. “And I do. I don’t think those lessons really stuck with us, Quackity. Any of them. But I don’t think we need to relearn them. Maybe we can make new ones.” Quackity chuckled. “Yea…” he looked down. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.” “I kinda figured you wouldn’t. Though, I don’t think Dream will be back anytime soon. That’s better, I think.” “Right, yea.” He had to take a minute, remember to actually breathe, but he finally began to calm down. Right after his trembles subsided, he shivered again, the temperature finally starting to get to him. Charlie was faintly warm, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from freezing in the cold night air. “Are you okay?” “I’m cold. I am kind of soaked right now, that’s not really helping it.” He thought over what he said for a minute, hastily adding on, “Nothing against you, Charlie.” “That’s okay. What should I do to help?”
“I’d like to dry off, please.”
Charlie’s lips pressed into a line at the final word, not remembering hearing him ever use such formalities, but quickly brushed it aside with a smile. “Sure, let’s dry you up.” “Don’t phrase it like that, man.”
After retrieving a washcloth (that Quackity wasn’t sure how he grabbed it without soaking it through with slime) and helping the shrunken man dry off, the duo wound up in the living room of the building they’d snuck into, Quackity sitting on the coffee table and Charlie sitting on the floor in front of the table, resting his head on his crossed arms a little ways away from the smaller to give him space.
“What now?” “I don’t know. I don’t even know if this-“ he motioned to himself. “Wears off. What if it’s irreversible?” “I don’t know, Quackity.” The mob muttered softly. “I’ve seen a lot of things, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen shrinking used here.” “Me either.” They reached a moment of silence, thankfully not tense, and the blackette pitched forward in exhaustion before catching himself with a jolt. “Rest, Quackity. It’ll all be okay.” He was scooped up again, but he couldn’t find it in him to care, letting his eyes drop closed and sleep coming to him easily for the first time in a long time.
Charlie gently lowered the tiny man to the bed, letting him slump down onto the pillow. He barely even stirred, remaining blissfully unconscious. The former brunette was thankful for it, he could tell that Quackity needed the rest. He thought about sitting on the floor to wait for him to wake up, but opted instead to sleep as well. He didn’t need to, but he’d rather lay down and be able to keep a closer eye on the smaller than if he were to sit with his back to the bed. Carefully clambering onto the bed, he let his head drop down a little ways away from Quackity.
Now that he wasn’t preoccupied with the former’s words swimming in his ears, he finally let himself think about the situation that had happened earlier.
It… felt strange to him. But not in the way that he had wanted it to, it felt… normal. Right. Granted, it was intertwined with being able to protect his former boss, but he couldn’t find any reason to not.. enjoy it. The squirming had felt nice, and maybe it would have been even better if Quackity hadn’t been completely terrified. And it wasn’t as if he tasted bad, no; there was a certain spice to his flavor that made him pretty delectable, to be honest. Charlie let himself drift into his thoughts, subconsciously bringing a hand over the small body as a single one captured most of his thoughts: would Quackity let him do this again?